Car-coupling



(No Model.)

W. G. MILLS.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 250,939. Patented Dec. 13,1881.

NVENTOR: fiM U ATTORNEYS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

WILLIAM G. MILLS, OF MERGED, CALIFORNIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

V SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,939, dated December 13, 1881.

Application filed September 24, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM G. MILLs, of Merced, in the county of Merced and State of California, have invented a new and Improved Gar-Goupler, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to those couplers known as self-couplers, and it consists of a draw-head having pivoted within it diagonally, on vertical pins, two opposite spring-actuated jaws for holding the coupling-pin. The rounded ends of said jaws are held in contact with each other centrally in the draw 'head, and their outward-extending ends are pivoted to the opposite ends of a knuckle-bar that is set horizontally and transversely across the top of the draw-head, and serves to lock the jaws in position. i

The cavity or throat of the draw-head is outlined in curves to permit the free movements of the jaws and coupling-pin, and the couplingpin has an arrow-shaped head to facilitate its entrance between the jaws, and to permit the jaws to close behind it and holdit coupled, all of which will be hereinalter described.

Figure 1 is a plan view, showing my improved device applied to two draw-heads, the draw-head caps being removed. Fig. 2 is a partly-sectional front elevation on line 00 m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents an improved draw-head, the cap on top A of which isheld in place by pins or studs a b. The studs a serve as pivots for the jaws B, that are set centrally thereon, and that are held in diagonal positions with their rounded ends 0 in contact in the center of the said draw-head A by springs O. The outward-extending ends of these jaws B are accommodated in triangular pockets (1, formed in the sides of the draw-head cavity, near the front thereof. Stops f outside of the springs 0 hold them in place and properly restrict their movements. The outer ends of these jaws B are connected by swiveled coup lings g to the outer ends of a knuckle or toggle bar, D, that extends transversely across the top of the draw head A, near the front thereof.

At the point h of the bar D is attached a rod, D, to which a lever is designed to be connected, by means of which the said bar D may be elevated at the middle, as shown in Fig. 2, to open the jaws B for the withdrawal of the coupling-bar E, and by means of which said bar D may be forced down in a horizontal position, whereby the jaws B are locked and held against the coupling-barE just behind its head E, as shown in Fig. 1.

The coupling-bar E is provided at each end with an arrow-shaped head, E, of rounded outline, the curves 13 in rear of its heads E being designed to correspond in shape with the rounded ends 0 of the jaws B, so that the latter may securely clasp and hold said couplingbar E. On the shank of the coupling-bar E,

near each end thereof, is an upward-projecting coupling-bar E has pushed aside the jaws B and has advanced beyond them, the springs O operate to close said jawsB against the coupling-bar shank directly in rear of the head E, thereby holding said bar E immovable.

In the rear of the cavity of the draw-head A a curved recess or pocket, m, is formed for the reception of the head E of the coupling-bar E, and at either side of this central pocket, m, the walls of the draw-head cavity are cutaway in curves, as shown at n, to permit the sweep of the jaws B as they open and close, and the curves m n intersect each other in such away and the pocket on permits the entrance of the bar-head E to such depth that the sweep of the curves n coincides with the curves 13 on the draw-bar E hence the jaws B can close thereon freely and without danger of failure to do so! The knuckle-bar rod D may be connected with a lever at the top or side of a car, the lever being in convenient position for the brake man to elevate the bar D, and thus open the jawsB to permit the cars to unoouple.

K K represent the car-buffers.

By the use of this improved device the dangers of life and limb incident upon the usual methods of coupling and uncoupling are avoided.

Having thus fully described my invention, 3. The draw-head A, having the pocket m [0 what I claim as new, and desire to secure by and curved cut-awayn, intersecting each other,

Letters Patent, isin combination with the end-curved jaws B, as

1. In a car-coupler, the swiveled couplings and for the purpose specified. 5 g, connecting the outside ofjaws B with a tog- I WM G MILLS gle-bar, as shown and described.

2. The couplin g-bar E, having the upwardly- Witnesses: projecting boss E in combination with the J. LEESON, bar D, as and for the purpose specified. Jos. BLACKBURN. 

